Eugene V. Debs Home

Infobox_nrhp | name =Eugene V. Debs House
nrhp_type = nhl


caption =
location= 451 N. 8th St., Terre Haute, Indiana
lat_degrees = 39
lat_minutes = 28
lat_seconds = 18
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 87
long_minutes = 24
long_seconds = 20
long_direction = W
locmapin = Indiana
area =
built =1890
architect= Unknown
architecture= No Style Listed
designated= November 13, 1966cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=11&ResourceType=Building
title=Eugene V. Debs House |accessdate=2008-06-12|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = November 13, 1966cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = Private
refnum=66000008The Eugene V. Debs House, on the campus of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, was a home of union leader Eugene V. Debs. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966.

Eugene V. Debs and his wife, Kate, built the two-story frame house in 1890, after their fifth wedding anniversary. Debs was criticized for the house not portraying working-class lifestyle; his wife was a beneficiary of her wealthy aunt's will and could furnish the house affluently. Visitors to Debs' house during his lifetime included friends James Whitcomb Riley and Carl Sandberg; one room in the house to this day is known as the Riley bedroom. When Debs died in 1926, a funeral sermon was given for him at the house, to which 5000 people attended the service. [Conn, Earl L. "My Indiana:101 Places to See" (Indiana Historical Society Press, 2006). pg.114,115]

Features of the house include the original cobalt blue porcelain tile fireplace imported from Italy, and the mahogany dining and parlor furniture and the entire Haviland china from when the Debs lived in the house, The house is also a museum on Debs' life, with many memorabilia of Debs life and some of Debs personal library, much of which is across the street at the library of Indiana State University. One room is covered by murals depicting Debs' life. [Conn pg.115]

After Debs' death, the house would see different owners. One was a professor at Indiana State University. It was later used as the Theta Chi fraternity house and for apartments before it became a national historic landmark. The Eugene V. Debs Foundation currently owns the house. In 2004 it was removed from threatened status after sufficient repairs to the structure occurred to ensure its permanence. [Conn pg.114] [ [http://www.nps.gov/nhl/Downloads/Removed%202004.pdf LANDMARKS REMOVED FROM THREATENED AND WATCH STATUS IN 2004 ] ]

References